5 Possible Steve McClaren replacements

After a very poor season from Newcastle United they find themselves in the bottom 3 and relegation looms. Steve McClaren has had a lot of pressure on him and is favourite to be the next manager given the chop in the League. Newcastle fans it could be worse, you could still have John Carver at the helm.

The Possible Candidates to replace McClaren:

Rafael Benitez:

Rafa is one of the stand out runners if Steve McClaren loses his job. A man who has won a trophy or promotion with every side he has managed bar Real Madrid. The Spaniard is a very successful manager who has 12 trophies to his name.

He is among Europe's top managers and has been successful with English sides in the past. He has won 3 European trophies in his time in England as he won the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup with Liverpool after that infamous night in Istanbul. He also won the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea in his short stint there.

The former Madrid man has an impressive win ratio of 54% and would be a great signing for Newcastle. Its unlikely that Benitez will end up with the Magpies but if they can pull it off he would save their season.

David Moyes:

The former Manchester United manager has always had his eyes on a Premier League return since his sacking of Real Sociedad. Moyes has struggled in recent years after a great few years in charge at Everton.

Moyes had a great 11 years at Everton and was unlucky not to get them into the Champions Leagues on more than 1 occasion. He did get a taste of European football with both Everton and Manchester United. He took Manchester United to the quarter-finals of the Champions League where they were beaten by Bayern Munich.

Moyes has just one trophy to his name, the Community Shield with Manchester United. He currently has a win ratio of 42%, Moyes would be a stable influence for Newcastle and is his perfect level. Moyes will have the experience to keep this struggling side up and in the Premier League.

Brendan Rodgers:

The Former Liverpool manager has been unemployed since October and has been linked with a few Premier League jobs since then. Rodgers is the favourite to take over from the ex-England manager.

Rodgers had a successful time with Swansea and had an up and down time at Liverpool with getting them 2nd in the league and back into the Champions League but then coming 7th in the next season. Rodgers should be a serious contender for the role if it becomes available.

The Northern Irish man has a win ratio of 46% and would be a very good manager for Newcastle. The magic he did with Swansea was very impressive especially with the style of play he implemented. The players that are available to him would work in his style. Jonjo Shelvey as the ball passing midfielder and Andros Townsend and Moussa Sissoko on the wings and Georginio Wijnaldum as a CAM.

Nigel Pearson:

A man who saved high-flying Leicester City last season and laid the foundations for their incredible season this year. He won an impressive 10 games at the back end of the season, which brought them from bottom of the table all the way up to 14th in the league.

Pearson has the know how to get players to give great performances. He is no stranger when it comes to giving his opinion and will tell the players to get out there and give great performances. Newcastle could need a manager like this to just get them playing and get results for the Toon side.

Pearson has a win ratio of 45% and would be a good appointment for Newcastle United. Mike Ashley may not pick Pearson as his first choice manager as Ashley prefers someone who is a good media man such as Alan Pardew and can be friendly with the players. Pearson may not fit the mould for a Newcastle manager but he would like to improve on his 0% win ratio for the Geordie's after a 2 game care-taker spell.

Michael Laudrup:

It was a surprise when Michael Laudrup was sacked as Swansea manager and replaced by Garry Monk.

Laudrup did find work in Qatar but it didn't quiet work out for it. But after his last stint in England he will be fondly remembered for his style of play and his emphatic trophy win against Bradford in the League Cup final.

The Danish manager would bring a very aesthetic style of play to the Magpies but would he do enough to bring the players up another level and keep them in the league. Laudrup has a win ratio of just 40% the lowest of all the candidates. Laudrup could be a risk for Newcastle but it would be a change from what they have and could see them with enough to get out of the relegation scrap.